A federal grand jury has indicted Isaac Rodriguez, 26, of Arvin, on a charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Eric Grant.
Court documents state that Rodriguez was found with a firearm after he was arrested on warrants related to probation violations. Due to previous felony convictions—including taking a vehicle, evading arrest, and prior possession of a firearm—Rodriguez is prohibited from possessing firearms.
The investigation involved the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, the Kern County District Attorney’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke Baty is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Rodriguez could face up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing would be determined by the court based on statutory factors and federal Sentencing Guidelines. “The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt,” according to officials.
“This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).”
